Thomson Penalty Pushes Auchinleck Talbot into Scottish Cup 2nd Round
Auchinleck Talbot 2-1 Cumnock Juniors Boyd (69′) Thomson (90′) Roulston (9′) Auchinleck Talbot progressed to the Scottish Cup 2nd round, coming from behind to defeat their bitter rivals, Cumnock Juniors Cumnock burst to life after nine minutes, Lee Roulston glanced an inswinging cross past William Muir to silence the home faithful. The visitor’s positive start continued. Roulston found space at the edge of the box, but Talbot captain Neil McPherson blocked his strike. Talbot currently sit top of the West of Scotland league with 7 wins from 7 games, but they struggled to settle as Cumnock continued to dominate possession and create the prominent chances. The home side slowly grew into the tie towards halftime. Luke Gillies broke down the left, but no one in yellow could get a touch on his inviting cross. Connor Boyd had an opportunity for the homeside on the stroke of halftime, but his low shot was well blocked in the box. Cumnock boss Stephen Swift would have been pleased with his side’s lead and resolute defensive performance. Talbot started the second half strongly, as they pushed for the equaliser. A corner kick from the right fell kindly to Luke Main, but he smashed over the bar from the edge of the box. The home side threatened again ten minutes into the second period. Ewan Thomson dispossessed the Cumnock midfield, but could only roll his strike into Blair Currie’s arms. The Juniors could have doubled their lead on the hour mark, but Talbot did well to scramble the ball clear in the six-yard box before Jon Craig could connect. Roulston flashed a half volley wide shortly after, looking for his second of the game. The home side equalised through striker Connor Boyd on 69 minutes. The striker raced onto a flick and finished low past Currie to haul Tommy Sloan’s side level. Talbot pushed for the winner, Ross Clark clipped the crossbar with an arrowing strike after positive play by Kyle McAvoy. The home side hit the woodwork again after 88 minutes, a smart turn and strike by Thomson on the edge of the box cannoned off Currie’s right post. Ewan Thomson won Auchinleck Talbot the cup tie in the 90th minute, Clark was bundled over in the box, and Talbot’s talisman coolly dispatched the resultant penalty past Currie. Calum McEwan gave away the penalty and was sent off minutes later, an unfortunate night for the substitute. Beechwood Park erupted at the full-time whistle. Auchinleck Talbot are the first name into the hat for the Scottish Cup 2nd Round Auchinleck Talbot: Muir, Clark, Shoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Sime, Main, Gillies, Boyd, McAvoy, Thomson Cumnock Juniors: Currie, Craig, Brindley, McDonald, Brownlie, Roulston, Forde, Buchanan, Orr, Dykes, Conn
Kyziridis-Inspired Hearts Record Comfortable Victory over Falkirk
Hearts 3 – 0 Falkirk Kyziridis (22′) Shankland (41′) Halkett (47′) A stunning Alexandros Kyziridis strike sent Hearts on their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Tynecastle, and to the summit of the Scottish Premiership. The game started at a frantic pace. Calvin Millar tested Alexander Schwolow with a low strike in the opening minute. The goalkeeper was making his first start at Tynecastle after his summer move from Union Berlin. Kyziridis was Hearts’ hero against Livingston 3 weeks ago, and was a constant thorn in the Falkirk side. His inventive cross narrowly evaded Craig Halkett as they searched for the opener. The home side eventually found a rhythm and created several chances in the opening exchanges. Stephen Kingsley stood up a deep cross to the backpost, which Harry Milne headed narrowly wide. The Jambos broke the deadlock after 23 minutes with a candidate for goal of the season. Kyziridis ventured in off the left, beating several white jerseys, and unleashing an arrowing strike past Bain into the top corner. It was a marvellous strike from the Greek winger, who looks to be brilliant business from the Tynecastle outfit. Falkirk occasionally showed signs of the football that secured back-to-back league titles under John McGlynn’s guidance. A clever forward pass by Spencer allowed McCann to sweep a low cross into the Hearts box, but Ross MacIver was unable to find the connection. The lead was doubled after 41 minutes. Lawrence Shankland picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and drilled a low effort under Bain. The captain endured a somewhat difficult 2024 season, but looks back to his best under Derek McInnes with his third goal in two games. The halftime whistle brought thunderous applause from the home faithful. Hearts were fresh off a first Ibrox victory in 11 years, and were brimming with confidence against the Scottish Championship winners. The home side raced out of the blocks in the second half and added a third in the 47th minute. Kyziridis turned provider, delivering a dangerous corner kick for Craig Halkett to glance home. McGlynn’s team had started slowly against Hibernian on Tuesday evening and were being put to the sword against a dominant Hearts. They looked to respond, as Scott Arfield and Calvin Millar flashed shots wide. Shankland stung Bain’s palms, and Kingsley’s free-kick cannoned off the wall as Hearts searched for a 4th. Braga inspired a Hearts comeback draw against Motherwell last month, and blasted a shot straight at Bain as the game ticked towards the 70-minute mark. Schwolow was alert to tip Tait’s stinging effort away from goal in the 80th minute as McGlynn’s boys searched for a route back. Overall, it was a deserved victory for Derek McInnes’ team, who move top of the Scottish Premiership after Celtic’s goalless draw with Hibernian. Hearts welcome their rivals in the first Edinburgh Derby next Saturday evening. The Bairns return to the Falkirk Stadium a week on Sunday to face Russell Martin’s Rangers. Hearts: Schwolow 7 Kingsley 8 Halkett 7 Findlay 7 Milne 7 McEntee 7 Baningime 7 Devlin 8 Kyziridis 8 Braga 8 Shankland 7 Substitutes: Steinwender 6 Forrest 6 Magnusson 5 Kerjota 5 Falkirk: Bain 6 Adams 6 Henderson 5 Lissah 5 McCann 6 Spencer 6 Tait 6 Cartwright 6 Williams 6 Miller 6 MacIver 6 Substitutes: Arfield 6 Oliver 6 Hart 5 Ogunsuyi 5 Attendance: 18919
“Headache Every Week” – David Gray On Hibs Goalkeeping Dilemma Ahead of Trip to Celtic
Hibernian travel to Celtic Park on Saturday looking to make history and become the first Hibs side to win at the home of the Scottish Premiership champions since 2010. David Gray’s side head into the match away to Brendan Rodgers’ unbeaten Hoops off the back of six matches without a win across all competitions, but like the hosts, remain undefeated in the league with one win and four draws so far in the Premiership. However, a Premier Sports Cup defeat at Ibrox was followed by a two each draw away at newly promoted Falkirk, where the Hibees managed to leave with a single point despite being two goals ahead of the Bairns on 44 minutes. Gray has recruited strongly over the past two seasons and has build an excellent core of players but one position has been called into question ahead of the trip to Glasgow. Goalkeeper. Following Tuesday evening’s score draw at Falkirk, Gray spoke about his depth of options between the sticks: “I think this is something that you can get caught up in with labels who’s your number one? “I think goalkeepers are always in a position where, it’s a very vulnerable place, if you make a mistake, there’s no hiding place for them, they both get the opportunity every single day in training, and I think both goalies have done well when they’ve played. “I’ve spoken to Smudge [Jordan Smith] a few times about areas in which he’s been disappointing with some goals he’s lost, but he has also had some big performances. “In terms of the goalkeeping department, I’ve got two very good goalkeepers at the club, and it’s another headache for me every single week, to decide what we’re going to do.” Gray was questioned on the situation after opting to retain usual backup Raphael Sallinger between the sticks of the league match against Falkirk, having played in the previous weekend’s cup clash at Ibrox. Gray gave his reasoning behind the decision: “Rafael was always going to play the Rangers game, that was something we decided beforehand. “I spoke to goalkeepers about that, it wasn’t as if I was looking at Smudge thinking that I need to change it. “I was just very honest, with Smudge tonight, I seen things in the game at Rangers that I thought would benefit us tonight and for Rafael to keep the gloves. “He was good again tonight, again, I’m not doing it because I felt that there was an issue, I just felt Rafael starting would give us the best opportunity tonight.” With four conceded over the two games, but some good saves in both matches, it will be a big call for the former Hibs captain whether he reinstates long-term first choice Smith for the clash at Parkhead or continues with the Austrian understudy who featured these past two weeks. Celtic, whilst in good form, head into the match amid a fury of fan protests against their incumbent board after a poor transfer window and shock UEFA Champions League exit to Karait Almaty in the qualifying round.
Ally McCoist believes Russell Martin is in ‘big trouble’ as the pressure continues to mount
It wasn’t the start Rangers were hoping for to their Europa League campaign as they suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Genk, as the pressure intensifies on under-fire boss Russell Martin. The Light Blues have only managed to win four of their last 14 games, and last night 38,000 were in attendance, which was the lowest turnout for a European game at Ibrox since returning to the Scottish Premiership nine years ago. The Rangers faithful made their feelings clear to Martin with a chorus of boos at fulltime and chants for him to ‘get to f***’. Time is certainly running out for the 39-year-old, and Ally McCoist believes that is the case. Speaking on TNT Sports, the footballing legend said he can’t see things improving anytime soon, whilst Martin is still in the role as head coach: “It clearly hasn’t been good enough, and it isn’t good enough, and tonight was another disappointment. “You can point to the red card, the deserved red card, but it goes deeper than that. The level of performances haven’t been good enough. “I just felt coming into the stadium tonight, you could’ve blown me away, it was nothing like a normal atmosphere of any game, never mind a European game here at Ibrox. “There was an apathy, I don’t know. There was just no life about the place, you know, actually on or off the pitch, which is really, really concerning. “The manager is in trouble, the manager is in big trouble because something has to change, and something has to change dramatically, and on the current evidence. Sadly, I can’t see it happening.”
